Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 6th March

In this Bulletin

- Flower story sparks controversy for Chinese state media;
- Strong earthquake strikes off Indonesia; and
- Aboriginal singer wins prestigious Sidney Myer award.

But first we have our Shen Yun quote of the day.

[audio]

For more information please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

Our SOH focus on China is next

**********************

Chinese state media reported on the rare spotting of the Udumbara flower and then removed their report two days later.

According to Buddhist legend, the Udumbara flower blossoms only once every 3,000 years.  Its arrival is believed to indicate the coming of a great sage or enlightened being.

In the past, China’s state media has denied the existence of the Udumbara, calling them insect eggs.

On February 27, China’s state-run media published an article titled Legendary Udumbara that blossoms every 3,000 years found in Lushan, Jiangxi.

On March 1, China’s official media deleted all the articles from their web sites.

For more on this story read The Epoch Times.

**********************

China’s annual session began Friday, with policy makers looking for answers to problems similar to those being experienced by Western countries.

The National People’s Congress will attempt to increase people’s incomes, bridge the rich-poor divide, decrease out of control corruption and justify environmental deprivation.

Premier Wen Jiabao gave his annual work report, similar to a state of the nation address, on Friday.

Wen announced policy measures such as the government’s economic growth targets, annual budgets and others aimed at keeping China’s strong economic growth.

China reported that last year it recorded an 8.7 per cent gross domestic product growth, disregarding global economic trends.

**********************

And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

**********************

The recent earthquake in Taiwan has cause millions of dollars in damage to infrastructure and business operations.

The 6.4-magnitude earthquake injured around 96 people. It delayed rail services, crushed farm houses and shortly cut off electricity to more than half a million homes.

Soon after the quake a fire broke out at the Everest Textile and burned for nearly a day. The damage from the fire is estimated at around 100 million Taiwan dollars, that’s 3.1 million US.

Taiwan High Speed Rail had to stop services to southern Taiwan on Thursday following a minor derailing during the quake, but it declined to say how much revenue it lost.

**********************

Off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck late on Friday. However, no tsunami alert was issued and there were no reports of damage or injuries.

The earthquake hit at just after 11 pm, waking people from their sleep, otherwise the effects were small.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of the earthquake was 165 kilometres west of Bengkulu on Sumatra Island. An alert was not issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre based in Hawaii. They said there was a very small possibility of a local tsunami.

Hundreds of earthquakes of a significant magnitude have occurred around the world in recent weeks.

**********************

You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network

**********************

Japan’s Princess Aiko did not attend school early this week after complaining of being bullied, a royal household official has said.

The princess, who is eight, came home from school in a state of anxiety and saying she had stomach pains early that week.

Later it was found that the Princess and other students in her class had been treated cruelly by boys in another class.

Princess Aiko, whose parents are Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako, attends Gakushuin Primary School in Tokyo.

Issei Nomura, the royal spokesman, did not give details of when the princess was expected to return to lessons.

**********************

The lead singer of one Australia’s most popular indigenous bands has won a major national performing arts prize.

Mandawuy Yunupingu joined stage actress Julie Forsyth, the Footscray Community Arts Centre and the Black Arm Band in sharing more than $120,000 Australian dollars from the Sidney Myer Arts Awards.

Yunupingu is the lead singer of the band Yothu Yindi gaining international success. He also has set up a foundation to strengthen Yolngu culture.

He says he was blown away when told he would be getting the award at a ceremony in Adelaide tonight.

Yunupingu says the money will go towards furthering his musical career, and to continue his dialysis treatment until he can get a kidney transplant.

**********************

“Asia Cast … Keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the world.”